PRK 3413 Foundations of Communication
PRK 3413 Foundations of Communication
This course provides an introduction to the foundations of communication for students interested in public relations and/or marketing communication. The course covers the history of communication study, theories important to all areas of communication, the contexts in which communication occurs, and the issues that must be examined by students of communication. Students receive an introduction to the various types of communication used by organizations: interpersonal, small group, corporate, marketing, organizational, mass communication, and inter cultural communication. It is designed to acquaint students with the broad and exciting field of communication and provide a grounding in the basic concepts that communication practitioners use to help their organizations succeed. The focus of the course is on individuals and communication which provides the basis for exploring effective communication between an organization and its various stakeholders.
Students will acquire the basic knowledge enabling them to continue their studies in public relations and marketing communication.
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
- Define the fundamental characteristics of communication.
- Describe the characteristics of various communication contexts.
- Explain the key theories associated with the communication process.
- Describe career options in the field of communication.
- Describe the basic communication functions found in organizations and their differences.
- Communicate better on a personal level.
Students will reflect critically and empathically on their communication, the communication of diverse others and the communication of organizations with an awareness of corresponding ethical implications.
Communication Foundations
- Theoretical foundations
- Historical and contemporary perspectives
- Stakeholder theory and issues management
Communication Processes and Skills
- Perceiving and understanding
- Engaging in verbal and nonverbal communication
- Listening and responding
- Creating communication climates
- Adapting communication to cultures and social communities
Contexts of Communication
- Personal identity
- Personal relationships
- Groups and teams
- Organizations; managerial, public relations, marketing
- Mass communication
- Digital media and online
This course will be based primarily on lecture but part of the learning process will require students to engage through active discussion and through a presentation of a topic assigned to them by the lecturer in groups of no more than 3. The lecturer will assign students to a group. 39 hours will be used in the classroom divided between lectures and presentations.
This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.
At re-sit all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.
Higher Education Entrance Qualification.
No particular prerequisites.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Presentation Weight: 10 Grouping: Group (1 - 3) Duration: 30 Minute(s) Comment: Students will present material from the readings assigned to them by the lecturer in groups of 3 to the entire class. All group members must be present for the presentation. Exam code: PRK34131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Invigilation Weight: 30 Grouping: Individual Support materials:
Duration: 2 Hour(s) Comment: Mid-term exam. A new exam for the mid-term exam will be given the same semester for those students who have a valid reason for missing the exam. (No New exam will be given for the final exam or presentation the same semester.) Exam code: PRK34131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 60 Grouping: Group (1 - 3) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Any student wishing to work alone must get special permission from the lecturer. Exam code: PRK34131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 33 Hour(s) | |
Other in classroom | 6 Hour(s) | Presentations |
Prepare for teaching | 36 Hour(s) | |
Student's own work with learning resources | 18 Hour(s) | Journal preparation |
Student's own work with learning resources | 107 Hour(s) | Home work and reading Exam preparation |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.